There are numerous rare colon diseases. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, the colon, also known as the large intestine, is a long, hollow tube at the terminal end of a person's digestive system that makes and stores stool. The NIH states that many health conditions impair the colon's ability to work properly, and that treatment for colon diseases largely depends on the disease and its severity.
Peutz--Jeghers Syndrome
Peutz--Jeghers syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic disease that's usually passed down through families and is characterized by the development of intestinal polyps, which increases a person's risk for certain cancers. The NIH states that Peutz--Jeghers syndrome affects approximately one in 25,000 to 300,000 births, and that the total number of Americans with this condition is unknown. There are two types of Peutz--Jeghers syndrome: familial and sporadic.
Familial Peutz--Jeghers syndrome is caused by a gene mutation, and is passed from one generation to the next. Sporadic Peutz--Jeghers syndrome is not passed from one generation to the next and is seemingly unrelated to the gene mutation that causes familial Peutz--Jeghers syndrome. Common symptoms associated with Peutz--Jeghers syndrome include the following: clubbed fingers or toes, brownish pigmented spots on a person's lips, gums and skin, abdominal cramping, dark freckles on and around a newborn's lips, vomiting and blood in the stool.
Hirschsprung's Disease
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases or NIDDK---a division of the National Institutes of Health---states that Hirschsprung's disease affects the large intestine and is characterized by severe constipation or intestinal obstruction. NIDDK notes that a person is born with Hirschsprung's disease, and that a diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease as an adult is rare. Common symptoms associated with Hirschsprung's disease in newborns include green or brown vomit, explosive stools following digital rectal examination by a physician, abdominal swelling, excessive flatulence and bloody diarrhea. Symptoms of Hirschsprung's disease in toddlers include constipation, abdominal swelling, excessive flatulence, bloody diarrhea, slow growth and development; and a lack of energy due to anemia.
Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction
According to the NIDDK, intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a condition with symptoms similar to that of bowel obstruction or blockage, although no intestinal blockage is found upon examination. The NIDDK states that intestinal pseudo-obstruction-related symptoms are caused by nerve or muscle problems that impair the passage of food, fluid and air through the colon. Although intestinal pseudo-obstruction can occur in people of all ages, children and older individuals are affected most often. Common symptoms associated with intestinal pseudo-obstruction include the following: cramps, abdominal pain and bloating, nausea, vomiting and constipation. If left untreated, intestinal pseudo-obstruction can cause bacterial infections, malnutrition, weight loss and muscle problems throughout the body. Intestinal pseudo-obstruction can be caused by abdominal or pelvic surgery, infections and diseases that target the muscles and nerves.
